December 18th, 2022

We'd love for you to join us!

We would be pleased if you joined us in person or online from the comfort of your home for church services via Facebook Live at 9:30am.

https://www.facebook.com/StJamesEpiscopalChurchMillCreek/

When we think of the “birth narratives” of Jesus, we often think of the angel visiting Mary and her wonderful response to that visit. What we often forget, though, is that in Matthew’s version of this story, an angel of the Lord visits with Joseph shortly after he’s discovered that Mary “was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” Needless to say, Joseph was taken aback by this, and his first instinct was to “dismiss her quietly” so that she might not be exposed to public disgrace.

When the Lord hears of his thoughts, though, an angel is immediately dispatched, and the first words from this angel, after addressing Joseph, are “Do not be afraid.” These are words we hear a number of times in Scripture, and they generally preceded something that would likely fill most of us with some kind of fear or uncertainty.

We know Joseph’s fears; the Gospel writer tells us what they are. We also know, that we’ve got fears of our own. Fear, of course, causes us to act in ways that aren’t faithful, that aren’t holy, so imagine that the words of the angel are words to you, as well:

“Do not be afraid.”

If we can hear these words and trust that God is watching out for us, too, then we can live as faithfully as Joseph, doing the work God has prepared us to do.

Stewardship Update

Our deepest thanks to all of you for your response to our recent stewardship campaign. We have a number of new pledges, and we are closing in on our goal of $140,000 of pledged giving. If you still have your pledge card at home, there is still time to turn it in. If you didn’t receive one and would like to, please contact us in the Parish Office. Thanks again for your love and generosity for the mission and work of St. James’!

New Instagram Page

Be sure to check out our brand new Instagram page!

www.instagram.com/st.james_mill_creek

Hanging the Greens

On the Last Sunday of Advent, December 18^th, we will be hanging the greens in the church. It will be immediately after the service. Any of you that can stay and help will be greatly appreciated. It shouldn’t take more than an hour. Thank you so much!  

We need some 2023 monthly calendars.

IF you have received any "extra" 2023 calendars (from any of your favorite charities), our grandparents at Coral Springs would love to have one for their room.

Any type will do-- Vets, Heart Assoc. whatever you might have - please bring them Sunday and leave them in the blue box inside the front door at church or in the blue box by the front door in the parish hall.

Then, we will give them to our friends at Coral Springs along with their other gifts.

Thank you, St. James Mission/Outreach team

St. James’ Christmas Creche

Our Christmas creche is now set up in the sanctuary, and there is space for all the many attendants for the birth of Christ. As you remember from last year, we invite you bring pieces from your own home creche as a representation of the many ways this wonderful story has been told and illustrated throughout history.

You can bring them during the week or on Sunday morning and place them in the creche. As many or as few pieces as you’d like to add is wonderful, and please mark them so we can return them to you after the Christmas season.

Thank you for your help and participation in this St. James’ tradition!

Advent and Christmas at St. James’

Thursday, December 15 - 6:30 PM - Advent Service of Light

Saturday, December 24 - 3:00 PM - Daylight Christmas Eve Service with Choir and Holy Eucharist

Saturday, December 24 - 7:00 PM - Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Choir and Holy Eucharist

Sunday, December 25 - 9:30 AM - Christmas Day Eucharist

Sunday, January 1 - 9:30 AM - The Feast of the Holy Name with Holy Eucharist

Photograph by Larry Heinold

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM

       New Year's Eve 2022

    Please consider hosting a table of 8 for $25

For the first time in three years, we will serve what our guests have called their "favorite meal “~lasagna, green beans, roll, fruit (bananas and clementines), and homemade desserts.  

o   We hope you will consider offering a donation of $25 (to cover the cost of a table of 8 guests) and/or by making homemade cookies, cupcakes, or cakes.

o   Donations for the lunch can be made by check to St. James' or cash (please indicate EDR on your check or envelope) and will be used to purchase the lasagnas, green beans, milk, and bread/rolls in bulk.

o   If you are donating cookies or cake, please wrap and mark them EDR and place them in the St. James’ kitchen freezer by Thursday, December 29th.

And, then….in the New Year~2023 - Mark your calendars for our January lunch!



Our first lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Tuesday, January 31^st.  We hope you’ll join us in the St. James’ kitchen on Monday, January 30^th from 9 am to 11 am to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and/or serve lunch on the 31^st.

Thank you for your support of our brothers and sisters in need.

Questions-text or call Pat Minor 302-983-6299 or Cindy Fauerbach 302-584-8053

Reaching out to those in need this holiday season

In our St. James’ tradition, we ask you to consider how you might brighten someone’s holiday season. The state of the economy and remnants of the Covid pandemic have taken an even greater toll on so many, especially the elderly, those with limited finances, and those without homes. Please consider if one or more of these opportunities for giving might fit in your holiday giving plans.

Emmanuel Dining Room and HOPE Center

Donate items for warmth

·        New warm socks, gloves, hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and underwear. (Anything needed to help keep warm for the winter season) All sizes are appreciated! 

Items can be dropped off at the parish hall in the bin on the porch from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Or the box in the foyer of the church. Please donate your items by Thursday, December 22^nd.

Host a table of 8 guests for $25 for our New Year’s Eve lunch at Emmanuel Dining Room

·        For the first time in three years, (due to Covid), we will serve our guests in the dining room the meal they have called their "favorite meal “~ lasagna, green beans, roll, fruit (bananas and clementines), and homemade desserts. 

Adopt-a-grandparent and Adopt-a-family

Make someone’s Christmas with a gift and remembrance

We “adopted” 20 residents of the Coral Springs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (formerly Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center) who have no family to remember them at Christmas and will also share in giving for individuals and families who are part of the Hope Center network to purchase gifts from their “wish list” and to ensure these individuals receive gifts. 

Please send your contribution in the form of a check to the St. James’ parish office or drop it in the collection plate:

St. James’ Church

Attn: Adopt-a-grandparent/family

2106 St. James’ Church Road

Wilmington, DE 19808

(Please mark: Adopt-a-grandparent/family in your check memo.)

Deadline for contributions: Tuesday, December 20, 2022

With thanks and blessings, the St. James’ Mission Outreach team  

St. James' Mission and Outreach updates

Sharing God’s gifts with others.

Reaching out to those in need this holiday season

Serving those in need with dignity and respect…

We are grateful for your support that enables us to

serve lunch at the Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR)

and provide clothing, food, and other items

needed by those being served at EDR, the Hope Center, and our community.

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM

Providing a daily lunch to those in need in Wilmington

Our next date for providing lunch for Emmanuel Dining Room will be Saturday, December 31, 2022.For their New Year’s Eve lunch, we will be serving lasagna, green beans, fruit, cookies, and a bottle of water again this year. And, as noted above, we will distribute the socks, hats, gloves, etc. that are collected this month.

New Castle County HOPE Center

for Individuals and Families in need of temporary housing and support services.

What started as temporary housing during the cold weather of 2020-2021 has grown into a permanent center that provides housing and support services for individuals and families who are without adequate housing in New Castle County.

New Castle County (NCC) purchased the former Sheraton Hotel on Airport Rd (now named the New Castle County HOPE Center) and kept the hotel management staff to keep the facility running.

Working together, many non-profit organizations including Family Promise and Christiana Care provide various services and support for individuals and families to obtain emergency and more significant housing and medical, psychological, and job skills opportunities as well.

The hotel can accommodate 400 and suites and adjoining rooms are given to families and enable households to stay together. Housing is coordinated through the Delaware Housing Alliance. If you know of anyone who needs this housing, please ask them to call 1-833-FIND-BED (1-833-3463-233) and leave a message.

How St. James' can help:

Review the list below and see if there are items you could provide.

Drop the items off: Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the parish hall porch. Please place your donations in the bin labeled Donations for HOPE Center on the porch of the parish hall or the box in the foyer of the church. Please note, Liz will bring in the bin and any donated items at 12:30 p.m. 

Items needed:

•            NEW Underwear, and socks - all sizes, children through adult

•            New or gently used t-shirts and light jackets

•            New books, puzzles, crossword books, and puzzle books - adult/children

•            Art kits, adult and children coloring books, colored pencils

•            Hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap (regular and travel size)

•            Tide pods or other laundry pods

•            Containers of ground coffee (the staff brews coffee daily for the guests)

•            Diapers - all sizes - Urgent need for size 5 & 6

•            Baby wipes

•            Gift cards - Target, Acme, Wawa

•            Non-alcohol hand sanitizer

•            Powdered Drink Mixes - Hot Chocolate mix or Iced Tea/Lemonade

•            Small containers of peanut butter and tuna fish (easy open)

•            Microwaveable one-dish meals

•            Fruit cups, apple sauce, and pudding

•            Individually wrapped snacks-crackers, granola bars, and cereal bars

•            Non-refrigerated milk and powdered milk

 Thank you,

St. James' Outreach Ministry  

Prayer Team Updates

The prayer team continues to lift up prayer requests shared by parishioners through emails or calls to the church office at 302-994-1584, to individual members of the prayer team, or requests left in the prayer basket in the church foyer. We collect the prayer requests and other concerns of the parish, community, and world. They are compiled weekly and then these requests are lifted up in the daily prayers of the team members. All are welcome and encouraged to share their prayers.

For those who have an immediate prayer need, we invite you to email your prayer needs and request to Carolyn Mack at cdmack37@gmail.com or call 302-565-8675

St. James' Pastoral Care Team

St. James' Pastoral Care Team continues to support our parish family and our community.

If you or someone you know is in need, we: 

·        send cards, make phone calls, and pray with you and/or for you.

·        Make home, hospital, and Eucharistic visits.

Please call the office (302-994-1584) and leave a message. Someone will get back to you. Messages are retrieved daily, seven days a week.

Please let us know if you need us or someone you know needs us. We will not know if you do not tell us.

“Blessful” Meditations

We all know that life can be a little stressful and hectic sometimes. We hope that by reading this short bible passage and watching a relaxing video will help you take a moment and reflect on God’s gifts.  

Matthew 6:2



"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent



Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Find more Morning Psalm and prayers please visit

https://delaware.church/psalms-and-prayers/